Method and apparatus for forming apertured fabric



March 30, 1954 G. L. MILLS 2,673,577

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING APERTURED FABRIC Filed Jan. 12, 1953- INVEN TOR.

5 i4 1 SEOEGE L. MILLS T wwgww UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING APERTURED FABRIC George L. Mills, Auburn,

Maine, assignor to Bates Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Maine Application January 12, 1953, Serial No. 330,726

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for producing textile fabric having apertures formed therein.

It has been found that fabric having a myriad of slits formed therein and properly treated may form a highly effective camouflage material for concealing military objects and installations, a camouflage material of this general type being disclosed in the U. S. patent, No. 2,351,142, to Meldon Mitchell.

Heretofore, slits have been formed in textile fabric by means of cutting dies, reciprocating knives and the like. The formation of slits by such devices has not been altogether satisfactory, for there is a marked tendency to produce a discernible regularity in the slit pattern which may be highly detrimental to the camouflaglng effect. Also, there is a tendency for slits cut in this manner to tear when the camouflage material is subjected to hard use, this being particularly so when it is attempted to use fabrics which are advantageously light in weight. Attempts have been made to overcome tearing by means of reinforcing strands woven into the material transversely of the slits. Again, the results have not been satisfactory, mostly because of the dimculty of coordinating the action of the slit cutting devices precisely with the location of reinforcing strands in the material, the tendency being for the devices either to cut through the reinforcing strands or to out so far short of them that tears may easily get started.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for forming slits in textile materials.

It is another object of the invention to provide I a method and apparatus for forming random slit patterns in textile materials.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for forming slits in textile materials whereby each of the slits is caused to terminate precisely at points at which reinforcing strands are disposed.

In accordance with the invention loom components, including instrumentalities for interweaving warp and pick yarns, are coordinated in their action with means for severing certain of the interwoven pick yarns as the fabric passes through the loom. This may be done by providing yarn guiding and severing means having active and inactive sides and coordinating their action relatively to that of Weaving instrumentalities so that at preestablished times during the weaving operation successive groups of pick yarns may be disposed respectively on the active and inactive sides. In this fashion the'movement of the fabric through the loom will result the severing of certain preestablished groups of picks, this in turn resulting in the formation of slits of preestablished lengths disposed at preestablished locations in the finished fabric. Conventional shedding mechanism such for example as a Jacquard or dobby head may be used to control this action in such a manner that a slit pattern will not repeat itself in the fabric over a long length of the fabric. Alternatively cams may be used to accomplish this purpose.

In a preferred form of the invention the pick severing means having inactive and active sides may be affixed to a stationary part of the loom, such as the breast beam, rearwardly of the weaving instrumentalities. The guiding means may be linked to the loom harness, preferably to individual heddles, with the warp yarns being drawn through other heddles in a conventional manner so that the shedding mechanism may be used to coordinate the relative motions of the guiding means and the warpyarns. When it is desired to form a slit in the fabric the heddle which is linked to the particular guiding means involved is moved to a position either above or below the shed as the case may be to cause subsequently entered groups of pick yarns to be disposed on the active side of the severing means to be cut as the fabric moves through the loom. When this heddle is returned to original position, subsequently entered pick yarns will pass on the inactive side of the severing means and will not be out. The heddle or heddles which control the guiding means are moved upwardly and downwardly at preestablished times so that slits of preestablished lengths will be formed at preestablished places in the fabric. Consequently almost any desired pattern of parallel slits may be attained.

Because it is known exactly which pick yarns will be severed, it is possible in accordance with the invention to weave into the fabric reinforcing pick yarns which will be disposed at the precise termini of the slits.

Also in accordance with the invention the guiding portion of the guiding and severing means may be joined to the severing portion, which is preferably stationary, in a pivotal connection so that the action of the severing portion will not be adversely affected by the action of the shedding mechanism.

These and other features of the invention may be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a fragment of textile material having randomly arrayed slits formed therein and having reinforcing strands at the termini of the respective slits:

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective, foreshortened and highly magnified to show de- I4, running woven with the yarns 23 is formed with a recess up and'down, the guide tails of the yarns defining a slit in the textile material;

Fig. 3 is a side view, schematic in nature, showing loom apparatus in operation, with pick yarns being disposed in a position which will result in the formation of a slit;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the loom apparatus in operation with the pick yarns being disposed so that a slit will not be formed;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a guiding and severing means; and

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of an alternative form of guiding and severing means.

Referring to the drawing and Fig. 1 in particular, a piece of textile fabric is identified by the numeral I0. Formed in the fabric I at preestablished places in a random-appearing pattern are random length slits I I. Each slit terminate precisely at a reinforcing band I2 running transversely thereto. Reinforcing bands I3 running parallel to and between the slits II may also be provided. The bands I2 and I3 may be formed, for example, of a plurality of filaments, say four, entered in the weave as one, or alternatively may be formed of single strands of yarn of high tensile strength, i. e. Orlon or nylon.

Referring to Fig. 2, a slit I I is magnified to reveal that it is formed by a series of severed yarns transversely of the slit II and disposed between and parallel to a pair of reinforcing bands I2. The slit II is bounded on either "side by longitudinal yarns I which are inter- I4 in a conventional manner. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the yarns I4 and reinforcing bands I2 are icks, while the yarns I5 and reinforcing bands I3 are warps.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, fragmentary portions of a conventional loom apparatus are shown including a harness having heddles IISa, I61) and I60 (from among a series), a lay beam I1 having a reed Ho and a shedding mechanism I8. Disposed between a pair of stationary supports I9 and 20 on opposite sides of the heddles is a guiding and severing means identified generally by the numeral 2I. It will be understood that in practice a series of guiding and severing means will be provided along the width of the loom and in numbers corresponding to the numbers of rows of slits which are required.

As best seen in Fig. 5, the guiding and severing means includes an L-shaped end piece 22, affixed as by screws 22a to the support 20, and an elongated and outwardly tapering foot portion 23 pointing toward the heddles. The foot portion a knife 24 which may be in the form of a wheel rotatably mounted on a carrier arm 25 which may in turn be affixed to the end piece 22, for example. Attached to the free end of the foot portion 23 in a pivotal connection 26 is a guide 21, which may be in the form of a wire connected to the heddle -I6a as by passing through the heddle eye and preferably joined to the support I9 through an extensible member 28. As the heddle Isa moves 21 will swing in a vertical plane about the pivotal connection 26.

Warp yarns 29 and 30 are drawn through the eyes of the heddles I62) and I60 and, in accordance with the respective motions of the heddles under the control of the shedding mechanism I8, will be held in vertically spaced apart relation- 'ship to form a shed 3!. Through this shed is passed a shuttle 32 which, in conjunction with the beating action of the lay beam I1 and reed "'I'Ia, will cause pick yarns 33, 34, 35, etc. (Fig. 3)

23a adapted to receive to be interwoven with the warp yarns 29 and 30, the latter according to well known principles being reversed in position after the passage of the shuttle 32.

In Fig. 3 it will be seen that the guide 21 is disposed beneath the shed 3| so that each of the pick yarns 33, 34, 35, etc. will be disposed above the guide 21. As the fabric moves through the loom, these pick yarns are carried against the cutting knife 24, that is on the active side of the severing means, to be severed. When these pick yarns are severed the fabric is permitted to drop beneath the stationary support 20 and onto a take up roll (not shown).

In Figure 4 the guide 21 is disposed above the shed 3I, having been moved upwardly by means of the heddle Ito, and each of the pick yarns 36, 31, 38, etc. is disposed beneath the guide 21 so that they may pass on the inactive side of the severing means to proceed unsevered to the take up roll.

In this fashion successiv groups of pick yarns are alternately disposed above and below the guide 21 and hence caused to pass on the active and inactive sides respectively of the severing means so that some groups will be severed to form slits and others will not.

As stated, the heddles through which the guides pass are controlled independently by the shedding mechanism I8 which may comprise, for example, a Jacquard (wherein a separate cord is provided for each guide), a dobby head or a cam assembly. Such mechanism is well known in the art and need not be described in detail herein. It should be understood that various combinations of these shedding mechanisms may be used. Thus a Jacquard might be used for the guide controlling heddles and a dobby for the warp heddles. In any case slits may b caused to appear throughout the fabric which will be of various lengths and in a random overall pattern. An almost infinite variety of slit patterns may be achieved and one pattern will not repeat itself over a relatively large length of the fabric.

Because it is known precisely which pick yarns will be severed, it is possible to weave reinforcing yarns (Figs. 1 and 2) into the fabric so that they will appear at the precise termini of the slits. To this end shuttles carrying reinforcing yarns may be activated through connections 18a by the shedding mechanism I8 so that reinforcing yar-ns will be entered into the weave immediately before and immediately after each movement of a-guidecontrolling heddle. In cases where two or more slits are partly disposed side by side, a situation will obtain in which the reinforcing band for one slit will be intercepted by and therefore severed at another slit. In Fig. 1, for example, the second slit from the left in the lower row of slits II intercepts and severs a reinforcing band I2 for the slit disposed above it. Such condition does not of course in any way affect the ability of those reinforcing bands to reinforce the particular slit with which they are associated.

Referring to Fig. 6 an alternative severing means is shown including a guide 39 (controlled by a heddle in the same way as the guide 21) to the upper side of which is secured as by a clamp to Fig. 5.

Although military camouflage fabrics at the present time are generally made with relatively heavy burlap fabrics interwoven into netting, it is possible to use much lighter fabrics when slitted by this invention. Lightness of weight and ability to ship and store relatively large areas of camouflage cloth in small spaces makes this invention of particular value in modern warfare. Lightweight fabrics, especially when treated with fire and mildew resisting chemicals and with suitable pigmentation are far easier to tear than th bulkier nettings in current use. It is of great importance, therefore, to be able to apply reinforcing threads or cords at exact positions in the cloth in accordance with the invention disclosed above.

The particular form of the invention here described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings is presented merely as an example of how the invention may be applied. Other forms, embodiments and applications of the invention coming within the proper scope of the appended claims will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. Loom apparatus for forming fabric having slits therein comprising weaving instrumentalities for interweaving warp and pick yarns, severing means mounted rearwardly of the Weaving instrumentalities and having opposite sides which are respectively active and inactive to sever pick yarns, and mean for disposing successive groups of pick yarns respectively on the active and inactive sides of the severing means, thereby to cause selected groups of pick yarns to be severed to form slits of preestablished length and at preestablished locations in the fabric.

2. Loom apparatus for forming fabric having slits therein comprising weaving instrumentalities for interweaving warp and pick yarns and including shedding means and shuttle means for selectively entering pick yarns and reinforcing pick yarns into the weave, severing means mounted rearwardly of the weaving instrumentalities and having opposite sides which are respectively active and inactive to sever pick yarns, means including the shuttle means for disposing successive groups of pick yarns respectively on the active and inactive sides of the severing means, thereby to cause selected groups of pick yarns to be severed to form slits of preestablished length in the fabric, and control means responsive to the last said means for activating the shuttle means to cause reinforcing pick yarns to be disposed in the weave on the inactive side of the severing means and therefore at the precise termini of the slits.

3. Loom apparatus for forming fabric having sl' s therein comprising weaving instrumentalities for interweaving warp and pick yarns, guiding and severing means having opposite sides which are respectively active and inactive to sever pick yarns, said severing means comprising a cutting blade mounted rearwardly of the weaving instrumentalities to be received between warp yarns and to intercept and sever pick yarns sub sequent to weaving, said guiding means comprising a guide disposed adjacent the weaving instrumentalities for leading pick yarns disposed on one side thereof to the cutting blade, and means for establishing relative movement between weaving instrumentalities and said guide to cause successive groups of pick yarns to be disposed on opposite sides of the guide whereby the pick yarns on one side may be severed by the cutting blade in passing through the loom to form slits in the fabric and the pick yarns disposed on the other side of the guide may pass through the loom unsevered.

4. Loom apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said severing means including a member having a recess formed on one side thereof and a cutting blade entering the recess, whereby pick yarns passing the member on the side having the recess will be severed as the fabric passes through the loom.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said loom instrumentalities including a harness having reciprocatable heddles through which warp yarns are drawn to form sheds, and means for attaching said guide of the guiding and severing means to one of said heddles to be reciprocated therewith, thereby to dispose the guide successively on opposite sides of the shed in the loom.

6. Loom apparatus for forming fabric having slits therein comprising weaving instrumentalities for interweaving warp and pick yarns, guiding and severing means having opposite sides which are respectively active and inactive to sever pick yarns, said cutting and severing means comprising a cutting blade mounted rearwardly of the weaving instrumentalities to be received between warp yarns and to intercept and sever pick yarns subsequent to weaving, said guiding means comprising a guide disposed adjacent the weaving instrumentalities for leading pick yarns disposed on one side thereof, to the cutting blade, means for shifting said guide relatively to the weaving instrumentalities to cause successive groups of pick yarns to be disposed on opposite sides of the guide whereby the pick yarns on one side may be severed by the blade to form slits in passing through the loom and the pick yarns disposed on the other side of the guide will pass through the loom unsevered.

'7. Loom apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including means for mounting the severing means in a substantially stationary position on the loom, and a pivotal connection between said guide and said severing means, whereby the guide may be shifted relatively to the weaving instrumentalities independently of the severing means.

8. In a method of making a fabric having slits formed therein the steps of interweaving warp and pick yarns to form a fabric, disposing a cutting device in the path of the woven fabric moving through the loom, causing successive groups of the pick yarns to be disposed respectively in and out of the path of the cutting device, and passing the fabric through the loom to cause the groups of pick yarns disposed in the path of the cutting device to be severed thereby to form slits in the fabric.

9. In a method of weaving a fabric having slits formed therein, the steps of interweaving pick and warp yarns to form a fabric, disposing a cutting device having active and inactive sides in the path of movement of the fabric through the loom, disposing successive groups of pick yarns on the active and inactive sides of the cutting device, entering reinforcing yarns into the weave immediately before and immediately after each group of pick yarns is disposed on the active side of the cutting device, and passing the fabric through the loom to cause the groups of pick yarns on the active side of the cutting device to be severed to form slits in the fabric having reinforcing yarns disposed transversely thereof at the pre cise termini thereof.

GEORGE L. MILLS.

\ No references cited. 

